Say You'll Stay

Adjusting

"I'm already knowin" Olivia says to Nina while she multitasks cleaning up the twins rooms.

"I miss you too"

It's been hard for Olivia to go from seeing Nina every day to barely seeing her at all now. Nina couldn't even begin to understand what hearing her voice does to Olivia. Part of Olivia wants to smile and happy when talking to her, she misses her terribly. The other side of her would rather curl up and cry in a corner.

"It amazes me how this is our first time talking since you left. I knew you'd be busy, but I thought you would at least call me a few times" Nina's wounded tone tells her everything she needs to know. Olivia sits on the bed edge, feeling deflated.

"Your right, I'm sorry Nina" Olivia refused to lie to her or come up with some lame excuse, which in return she'd let her use.

"It's fine Liv, I get it, I just want you to know you're missed here" Nina's voice cracked. Olivia's life wasn't the only one that got turned upside down by this. Nina lost a sibling, plus her, and her nephews.

"When you think you'll come back?"

Olivia felt like Nina didn't fully understand the situation she's in. Between the credit card bills, equity line Jadyn took out, with her name as the co-signer no less, she'd have to either file for bankruptcy, or stay here and make payments like they allowed her to. A tear falls as Olivia wrestles with the truth.

"I'm not sure. Without winning the lottery, it's gonna take a minute"

"This is ridiculous, you know that right?" Nina paused before beginning her tirade.

"You shouldn't be punished for his actions, he did this, not you. The credit cards, the equity line, that was all him, not you. It's so unfair. You and the kids were forced to move, sell your side of the bakery, work for your parents? This isn't on you, so why the hell are you paying for the price? Olivia's anger builds up while she listened to her. She grips the shirt in her hand while the rage begins to consume her body.

"Cuz he was a fucking coward! He did this to us! Want the answer? It lies at your brother's feet"

Nina gasps. "I...I'm," she struggled to speak. Olivia recognizes that she's hurt her, and this is why they haven't spoken. Her anger flips into sadness when she decided to lay it out for her. Nina didn't do this to her, and she didn't deserve the hostility coming her way. Olivia heaves out a heavy sigh.

"Look, Nina, I'm sorry, he was your brother, and that makes this even more difficult for me to have this conversation with you. I'm angry, Na, I mean, deepest in my soul angry" Another tear slips.

"I don't become sad or long for him any longer, and I feel guilty that I even feel this way" Olivia confessed feelings she had kept bottled up.

"You're right, I'm sorry, you're allowed to feel whatever you feel" Nina says.

"Things are just different now. When I talk to you, it reminds me of the life I used to have. Job I always wanted, house I loved, friends and loved ones I had to leave" Nina doesn't say a word, but she hears the hiccup through the line.

"When I think of you, it reminds me of him. The happiness I once had. It hurts talking to you and its hurtful knowing that"

"You're not alone Olivia. I'm angry too. I've lost everyone" Nina's sobbing now through the phone.

"He ripped a hole into my life too, were both dealing with the same emotions, I just want you back here. I want my best friend and sister back" Nina's visible agony in her voice breaks Olivia. Hurting her was the last thing she'd ever want to do.